544

DISCUSSION ON "SKETCH FOR AN ALGEBRA OF RELAY AND CONTACTOR CIRCUITS"

just as many formulae will become less familiar. In the original

notation
a . {b c) ; J a . b -f a . c
looks familiar, whereas
has to be learnt afresh. In Mr. Pot's notation, the first of
these equations becomes
a + b.c~(a

+ b).(a + c)

and is unfamiliar, whereas the second becomes

(a -V b). c ~ a . c + b . c

and is more easily grasped at first. On balance, therefore, there

would seem to be little to choose between the alternative
notations.
Many of the equations are indeed still true whichever notation
is adopted, and this interesting symmetry can be traced back to
a similar duality in the theorems of symbolic logic.
Mr. Pot's dropping of the terms involving a A seems rather
arbitrary and sometimes makes the working of his circuits depend
on the speed of operation of the a-contacts. For example, in
his Fig. E, A will energize at the first operation of the a-contacts.
Bearing in mind that a is a make-before-break contact, the
operation of a must be quick enough for the a-break to have
occurred before a0 has closed. Otherwise the upper coil of B
will be energized and B may operate prematurely.

DISCUSSION ON
"THE RECURRENT-SURGE OSCILLOGRAPH AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE STUDY
OF SURGE PHENOMENA IN TRANSFORMERS*"
SOUTHERN CENTRE, AT BOURNEMOUTH, 15TH FEBRUARY, 1950
Mr. C. W. A. Priest: I am intrigued to hear that it is now have developed for displaying current surges on the oscillograph
possible to measure 3 x 10~9 sec with the oscillograph; even under discussion?
Messrs. E. L. White and W. Nethercot (in reply): In reply to
getting a trace with so short a time interval is surprising.
I should like to ask the authors whether this oscillograph Mr. Priest, the voltage of the surges generated by a recurrentcan be applied to the detection of faults and to the examination surge oscillograph is generally too low to cause breakdown, even
of windings, etc.? Would it be possible to use it for routine in a faulty winding, but one instance of routine insulation testing
with recurrent surges is given in Reference 7 of the paper.
examinations?
The oscillograms in Fig. 6 show the same phenomenon
Fig. 6 shows three traces which appear to show the same
subject at three different oscillograph speeds. Will the authors recorded at three different sweep speeds. Owing to limitations
of space we are unable to enlarge on the history and development
indicate whether my interpretation of this figure is correct?
Mr. H. E. White: I should like the authors to say more on the of the recurrent-surge oscillograph, but we would refer Mr. H. E.
history and development of this research, because many of us White to the literature quoted in the paper under Section 6.
In reply to Mr. Irvine, referring to stresses, we had in mind the
have little contact with such instruments. The E.R.A. have
certainly developed the recurrent-surge oscillograph to great particular values of stress at which the various parts of the
advantage and have gained wonderful results from its application. insulation would break down. These are expressed, in practice,
Mr. D. C. Irvine: The authors say that due allowance must as voltages or voltage gradients for given arrangements of conbe made for insulation stresses due to abnormal voltage- ductors and insulation and for given times of application of
transients. The tests to which they refer will give the charac- the voltage, and are determined experimentally. We have no
teristics of the transients and of the potential gradients that can evidence that the non-proportionality between potential gradient
be set up. Since stress does not increase proportionally with and stress affects the distribution of voltage in a winding.
We should explain to Mr. Peterson that it is the voltage, and
potential gradient, can the authors explain how the stresses can
not the current, of a surge which is important in a transformer
be calculated?
Mr. R. J. Peterson: I should like to ask the authors for more winding, and that the recurrent-surge oscillograph generates
details of the distinction between voltages and currents during surges of defined voltage waveform. Only voltages are shown
the occurrence of these phenomena. In some of the diagrams of in the records. The technique of recording a current with the
applied surges, I was not clear whether the surges applied were recurrent-surge oscillograph does not differ from normal practice
those of voltage or current, nor whether the recorded responses in single-stroke surge recording. The only satisfactory method
is to record the voltage across a resistor carrying the current.
were voltages or currents.
Will the authors give more details about the techniques they Great care must be exercised in keeping the inductance of the
resistor to a minimum, particularly if the resistance is low.
Paper by E. L. WHITE and W. NETHERCOT (see 1949, 96, Part II, p. 269).